Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, following the nationalisation of Great Western Rail (GWR), they will review the timetables for the routes currently operated by GWR, and whether they will include a late evening service on those routes.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
For each transfer into DfT Operator Ltd, there will not be any immediate changes to the timetable specification and there are no immediate plans to change the way future timetable adjustments will be managed. My Department has regular discussions with Great Western Railway to review the level of service provision, including in relation to late evening services, to ensure that the timetable meets passenger demand, is resilient, and provides value for money for taxpayers.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for disruption caused by rail works at Old Oak Common to train services from Carmarthen to London; and how long they anticipate this disruption will last.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Old Oak Common station is a crucial enabler for the Government’s growth mission. During its construction there will be periods of full line closures and some periods, generally weekends, when the closure of some lines means fewer services will be able to operate. During full line closures, most services from Carmarthen to London are expected to be diverted into London Euston, maintaining direct access for passengers into Central London. This Government will continue working with industry partners to ensure that disruption for passengers using the Great Western Main Line is kept to a minimum.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 23 July (HL Deb col 361) in relation to an upcoming meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales, when is the meeting, and whether they will report the discussions that take place in the meeting.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales is planned to take place in August. The meeting will include the parties agreeing how any reporting from the meeting will take place afterwards. The Secretary of State has already met with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to launch the "local transport alternatives" to HS2 in England.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
The Government has made substantial progress on delivering new local transport investments, a core commitment of the Network North Command Paper. The £4.7bn Local Transport Fund and allocations by local authority was announced on 26 February 2024 and the £8.3bn uplifts for Highways Maintenance was announced on 17 November 2023, with local authorities now actively delivering on this record investment.